Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

I had more energy, felt brighter but was VERY pissy and testy. Had to stop taking it as I work in corporate america. Once I got on the phone and started yelling at people, I realized this was not going to work.

Edited February 23, 2014 by HorseyGal

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

I just got put on Fetzima recently. Started out with 2 doses of 20mg, followed by 12 days of 40mg, and now I believe this has been the 6th day of 80mg. My doctor did this incremental dosage thing to prevent any nasuseaous symptoms, which I've had none of (sensitive stomach too, although maybe not totally relevant when talking about this).

Been on and off of Cymbalta for years. Cymbalta has been by far the best antidepressant for myself. I mainly take antidepressants to reduce anxiety symptoms, although sometimes I do get the typical depressive symptoms too. I've been in a real funk lately, even having "suicidal ideations". My doc suggested I try Fetzima to avoid the inevitable sexual side effects of Cymbalta. Having not been taking Cymbalta for maybe a week now I'm already back to raging bull status.

Fetzima is probably the most interesting drug I've ever taken. I have so much more energy to do the things I need to do. This is very important because I'm in engineering school, and am seeking a coop for the summer (I really shouldn't even be writing this hah, so even if I try my hardest to do everything I need to do, I will still probably fall short. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.

My anxiety isn't particularly high, especially considering what it was just a month ago (near panic attacks), however it's different. It's hard to put into words, but with the added energy comes a sort of yellow haze or buzz. I wouldn't necessarily call it nervous energy, like I feel compelled to bounce my leg or something, but I feel like I'm walking around in a different world. It's not necessarily a bad world this way, definitely better than without anything, streets ahead there. It's just a bit of a weird feeling. Maybe my brain just needs a little recovery time to deal with all this stress it has been through for a long time. I don't know.

Overall I would definitely recommend Fetzima to anyone who finds themselves having depressive symptoms, and feel zapped of energy or willpower. In that respect, I don't think I've ever felt better.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

My psychiatrist yesterday prescribed me Fetzima. I've just started the starter pack, took my first 20mg pill today, with the plan to get to 40mg and stay there.

Since around 1998, I have taken Paxil (~ 12 years), Cymbalta, Viibryd, Pristiq, Wellbutrin, back on Viibryd, and now Fetzima. I suffer from MDD and GAD. I'm not sure what causes what, whether my depression causes anxiety or my anxiety causes depression.

I'm 40 years old, have two boys, and am in a unsatifying marriage, oh, and I have a job that I don't like. And have a child with ADHD that is having all sorts of behavioral problems at school. And am under pressure to finish a transition to teach program so that I can become a teacher, instead of doing what I am currently doing. And have a half-marathon race coming up in a month and a half that the cold weather around here (Indiana) has prevented much opportunity to get training runs in.

Cymbalta didn't work for me, and getting off of it was horrible - the withdrawal was staggering for me. Viibryd didn't appear to do anything beyond what I had experienced with Paxil, Pristiq seemed to work well for me, but the sexual side effects were too much - no libido, erectile issues, etc. Tried to go on a combo that had no sexual side effects (Wellbutrin + Buspar), but the Wellbutrin really cranked up my anxiety. I went back on Viibryd temporarily until I could get in to see my psychiatrist again.

Now, I'm starting Fetzima. Not sure what to expect. My prior experiences with SNRI's were mixed. Pristiq worked fairly well, I think, but side effects were too much. Cymbalta didn't seem to do much for my anxiety.

My main complaint right now is my inability to stay asleep. I wake up every morning between 3 am and 5am, and am unable to get back to sleep. My doctor thinks it is depression, which I don't doubt.

I even take 100mg - 150mg of Trazodone to help me fall asleep, but I still wake up 5-6 hrs later, sit in bed, and am unable to get back to sleep, which starts to crank up my anxiety to start the day. Not a good thing.

I'm hoping to have some success with Fetzima, and due to the newness of it, look forward to seeing how the rest of you progress.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

I have taken Effexor for the last 7 years and it has worked good for my Bipolar and depression problems. The doctor and I thought it would be good to take me off the effexor for awhile and try out Fetzima. I am glad I heard other people comment on side effects of effexor (lack of sexual motivation and problem orgasming) I have been on Fetzima for a month now and have had a headache almost everyday and had periods of nausea also. I have not got the boost of energy that others speak of and feel like my emotions are alot more up and down then when I was on Effexor. I am also going through periods of feeling like crying.. I dont think Fetzima is for me maybe I need more of a Serotonin boost than what this pill gives.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Well is my week six follow up. I am still on 40 mg of Fetzima. Completely off of Lexapro, Klonopin and Nuvigil. I came off all of those as recommended. Most of the initial side affects are gone, but I am still very agitated and 'moody'. I also now have what could be described as Vertigo, but not really. It only happens when I move abruptly or am active for a period of time. My pdoc doesn't think that it is a side affect and my internal medicine doctor couldn't find anything wrong and gave me an antibiotic pack to help for inner ear issues. That has done nothing.

My pdoc did suggest to increase my dosage since Fetzima seemed to immediately help with my chronic fatigue. Extremely bad idea. I took an additional 20mg in the morning as he suggested and I got extremely agitated. The timing couldn't have been worse. I am back in school full-time trying to figure out what to do with my life and I had a blow up in the middle of a class of about 30-40 students. Luckily the professor knows me as well as a few of the students. They were all very surprised by my outburst and knew it wasn't like me. I spoke to the professor after class in her office and she completely understood. I then couldn't stop crying. Now I have a bunch of students that think I am a major jerk, but I can't help that now. I am staying on 40mg until I can get in to see my pdoc.

I am still very quick to go off though, followed by guilt and crying. As others have mentioned on this site, I now have to decide it this is better than what I had before which at this point it is.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Agitation seems like a common problem with SNRIs. It's the norepinephrine reuptake inhibition that causes it. Fetzima is probably the worst in this regard -- it hits the NE receptors harder than the others. It all depends on the type of depression you have, what your particular imbalance is.

I'm doing much better on Brintellix.

Edited March 4, 2014 by Blue Toad

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

What are your symptoms / issues? It's interesting, as my psychiatrist mentioned that fetzima hit the norepi receptors much moreso than other SNRI's. I didn't know what to make of that at the time, but now I have experienced it.

I took pristiq and cymbalta before - huge sexual side effects with pristiq - just no libido whatsoever, but didn't seem to have any such side effects with cymbalta. Although, at the time, I didn't know what exactly the cymbalta was doing for me.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Terrible side effects. Sweaty, anxiety attacks, rapid heart beat, and the always unpleasant sexual side effect of not being able to get an erection at all.

Saddened by this, as I was hoping for something more. Now back on Viibryd in the mean time until the psychiatrist can come up with plan B.

Good luck to the rest of you who this is working for.

Yep, its that good old norepinephrine. I felt sweaty and had faster hartbeat(and raised BP a little) on cymbalta and nortiptyline. Really edgy at times. Some folks just dont do well with extra norepinephrine. Fetzima is closely related to savella. Me and my pdoc were talking about options yesterday before we settled on brintellix. She was saying she only had one patient who ever liked savella. The rest hated it.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

I started taking fetzima about two weeks ago. It was working really well! I had energy, control of my emotions, I felt happier over all and didn't have any anxiety attacks. I started to feel like myself again! It was the perfect drug for me until I woke up with hives and a swollen tongue after being on it for one and a half weeks. I was so sad to have to stop taking it. Now I am about to try viibryd now that the hives are gone. Other than the allergic reaction, I thought fetzima was great! I hope that it helps a lot of people!

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Yep, its that good old norepinephrine. I felt sweaty and had faster hartbeat(and raised BP a little) on cymbalta and nortiptyline. Really edgy at times. Some folks just dont do well with extra norepinephrine. Fetzima is closely related to savella. Me and my pdoc were talking about options yesterday before we settled on brintellix. She was saying she only had one patient who ever liked savella. The rest hated it.

I was on cymbalta at one point, but never had any of these side effects. Its so strange how medications affect people so differently, even within families such as the SNRI's and SSRI's, that it really does seem like psychiatry is largely based on "what's next on the shelf?" as opposed to a logical process...

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

I am new to the boards. Doc took me off Wellbutrin 300mg and Effexor 225mg on Monday. Started taking Fetzima 40mg Tuesday. So today is day 3. Feeling very odd. Yesterday I was very confused and tired, slept most of the day, ravenously hungry. Today I alternate between nausea and hungry. Feel like I am going to fall asleep at my desk. Last night I slept hard, especially odd since I slept most of the day. I sweat through everything on my bed, which is also very odd for me.

I am noticing a theme on this thread, that everyone's pdocs stair stepped them off old drugs and star stepped them up on Fetzima. Not mine. Went cold turkey and started a new.

So I am wondering if my symptoms are a cross of the three meds reacting, coming off the Effexor or just the reaction to Fetzima. Husband wants me to call pdoc, but I just want to give it some more time. What to do?

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Doc took me off Pristiq 100mg on Monday. Started Fetzima 20 mg Tuesday morning. Took with food as I am prone to diarrhea. Hot flashes of sorts started Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday took another 20mg. Severe hot flashes plus jittery, rapid heartbeat, vivid dreams when I was able to sleep, and nausea. Thursday 40mg. Could barely stand myself. Same previous symptoms plus vomiting and severe diarrhea. Had to leave work by noon. Doc wants me to take a Pristiq today then try brintellix. Think I'm gonna have to pass. I want to go back to one of the old school meds like Wellbutrin. I took it many years ago. Can't remember why I stopped. Have previously taken Prozac, effexor, Pristiq and a couple I can't remember. I'll go back to Pristiq 50mg until I can see my doc.

Really appreciate all the great info shared on here.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Hello, I am brand new to the forum. I found it recently when I was looking for info on Fetzima.

I've been on many different antidepressants over the last 17 years or so. I've been on citalopram 40 mg for several years now but it just doesn't do anything for me anymore. I started Fetzima about a week and a half ago. Took 20 mg the first 2 days and then 40 mg for 5 days and I was done.

To say I was agitated would be a huge understatement. I turned into a raging witch. I was saying horrible things to my family and it was like I was outside of myself watching someone else act this way. I knew I didn't want to say these things but it was just spewing out of my mouth and didn't have any control over it. I felt like I was going to explode over little things that I would typically just find slightly irritating. My heart was racing and felt like it would beat out of my chest. This was the worst reaction to any med I've ever taken by far.

I felt edgy on Wellbutrin, but it was the tremors that made me stop taking that. I took Effexor for a short time and can't remember why I stopped. I guess SNRIs aren't for me. I had a similar experience with Provigil when it was added to my SSRI for energy/motivation. It worked, but then around 5:00 or 6:00 PM I would starting getting grouchy. I didnt think it was that bad but doc took me off of it.

I will be starting on Brintellix 10 mg tomorrow. Kind of nervous after this last reaction, but I'm desperate to feel better.

Hope the rest of you are able to find something that works.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Just started Fetzima two days ago, took 20mg both days, 40mg tomorrow (well, since it's 1:50am, it's 40 later today). So, some nausea so far, exhaustion the first day. Took it at about 5p when I picked up the meds on the first day. So tired that night, slept like 14 hours, it was crazy. Took the dose today at 12:15p, headache by 1:15p. Nausea off and on, but took phenergan with my migraine medicine, but the headache was different then my normal migraine. Tonight, took my sleeping meds later then normal, but never got tired. Tomorrow will take my 40mg first thing in the morning.

I am really hoping I get the energy a lot of you are talking about. I need energy more then anything right now! Energy and motivation! I will keep you updated as I increase meds and continue on Fetzima.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Hello, I am brand new to the forum. I found it recently when I was looking for info on Fetzima.

I've been on many different antidepressants over the last 17 years or so. I've been on citalopram 40 mg for several years now but it just doesn't do anything for me anymore. I started Fetzima about a week and a half ago. Took 20 mg the first 2 days and then 40 mg for 5 days and I was done.

To say I was agitated would be a huge understatement. I turned into a raging witch. I was saying horrible things to my family and it was like I was outside of myself watching someone else act this way. I knew I didn't want to say these things but it was just spewing out of my mouth and didn't have any control over it. I felt like I was going to explode over little things that I would typically just find slightly irritating. My heart was racing and felt like it would beat out of my chest. This was the worst reaction to any med I've ever taken by far.

I felt edgy on Wellbutrin, but it was the tremors that made me stop taking that. I took Effexor for a short time and can't remember why I stopped. I guess SNRIs aren't for me. I had a similar experience with Provigil when it was added to my SSRI for energy/motivation. It worked, but then around 5:00 or 6:00 PM I would starting getting grouchy. I didnt think it was that bad but doc took me off of it.

I will be starting on Brintellix 10 mg tomorrow. Kind of nervous after this last reaction, but I'm desperate to feel better.

Hope the rest of you are able to find something that works.

Your experiences sounds similar to mine! I just started lexapro last week after the failed attempt with fetzima. Wellbutrin and Fetzima just made me really amped - my anxiety level was through the roof.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Nice to be here... No need to go in to all the suffering I have endured over the past 30 years. That would be like singing to the choir. Or, the hundreds of medications that never relieved any of the symptoms. Not to mention all the time and money. One of the reasons I decide to become a member of this site is because I saw a group of people determined not to give up. One day, if I am still alive, I know there is going to be something that hits the market that will give me a sense of what it is to live without hurting. In the past three months I have had TMS Therapy, and Ketamine Infusions. Non of which brought any relief. I drove over 4000 miles and spent up to $10,000. on the TMS for 6 weeks of sessions. Talk about disappointment. Drove about 300 miles and invested in hotel rooms in NYC for the Ketamine, to no avail. I am scheduled for an in-take meeting in the morning at Mount Sinai Medical School to participate in a Ketamine study. I am feeling overwhelmed by "chasing" a drug that is not even FDA Approved for depression. So, if it did help I'd have to travel back and forth to NY to get "off" label treatment. So. I talk to my local doctor today, (which by the way knew nothing of these treatments. I am pro-active in my own therapy). Anyway he offers me samples of Fetzima. It is one of only two anti-depressants I have not taken. I am thinking about canceling my time at Mount Sinai tomorrow and giving this drug a shot. I have mixed feeling because it seems there are more people having bad reactions than good. I am not sure yet what direction I am going to go in, but, I appreciate everyone sharing their experience with Fetzima...

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

I joined this board to respond to this topic. I thought I'd share that I'm one of the 300+ that took Fetzima for over a year during its clinical trials. I found this actually because after being off of it for two years, I have been waiting for it to become available to me again. A few months ago, I went to my doctor and asked for it, but my insurance didn't cover it, so he offered me Viibryd, which has been a horrible mistake and I have an appointment Monday to ask to be weaned off it. In any case, I thought I'd share that for me at least, the benefits of being on this drug were tremendous. I did experience side effects. Now and then, my heart would race. I was friends at the time with a former EMT, and he would take my pulse and tell me I was tachy. I would sit down for a few minutes though and feel better. My blood pressure also rose slightly, though not dangerously. The sexual side effects wore off after a few months, but I didn't have anyone significant at the time, so they actually made life a bit easier for a time to be honest. All that said, I am hoping to be able to take it again soon. My mood was so much better. Also, I am mildly narcoleptic, and have never had much energy. Fetzima was huge in making my life at the time possible. I was able not only to work my first full-time job (I had just graduated college), but also take part in the life of both the churches I went to and volunteer my time in ministry. It was possible to be busy seven days a week for the first time in my life. I didn't burn out until the study ended and I was taken off the drug. I was offered something else, but I felt so good I declined. Things went downhill from there. I'm still not sure how I'm going to be able to afford to be on it, but I thought that I would share that I found sticking with this medication was well worth it.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Hello, I am brand new to the forum. I found it recently when I was looking for info on Fetzima.

I've been on many different antidepressants over the last 17 years or so. I've been on citalopram 40 mg for several years now but it just doesn't do anything for me anymore. I started Fetzima about a week and a half ago. Took 20 mg the first 2 days and then 40 mg for 5 days and I was done.

To say I was agitated would be a huge understatement. I turned into a raging witch. I was saying horrible things to my family and it was like I was outside of myself watching someone else act this way. I knew I didn't want to say these things but it was just spewing out of my mouth and didn't have any control over it. I felt like I was going to explode over little things that I would typically just find slightly irritating. My heart was racing and felt like it would beat out of my chest. This was the worst reaction to any med I've ever taken by far.

I felt edgy on Wellbutrin, but it was the tremors that made me stop taking that. I took Effexor for a short time and can't remember why I stopped. I guess SNRIs aren't for me. I had a similar experience with Provigil when it was added to my SSRI for energy/motivation. It worked, but then around 5:00 or 6:00 PM I would starting getting grouchy. I didnt think it was that bad but doc took me off of it.

I will be starting on Brintellix 10 mg tomorrow. Kind of nervous after this last reaction, but I'm desperate to feel better.

Hope the rest of you are able to find something that works.

Your experiences sounds similar to mine! I just started lexapro last week after the failed attempt with fetzima. Wellbutrin and Fetzima just made me really amped - my anxiety level was through the roof.

I tried Lexapro for a while. No side effects that I can recall, probably just another one that pooped out on me after some time. Good luck with it! I can say I've been doing pretty well on Brintellix so far, but it hasn't even been a full week yet, so we shall see!

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Thanks Wham... I am sorry to hear you are having difficulty getting the Fetzima. It's a shame. I am getting samples right now, from my doctor. There is a savings program offered by the manufacture but it won't let me "paste" the link here. If you go to www.fetzima.com under "tools and resources" you will see a link for the "Fetzima Savings Program".

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Hello everyone..wow, I am so glad to have found this forum..I also have been dealing w depression & mental disorders since my teens and have pretty much tried most meds out there..last one was viibryd,which when I first started researching it..it seemed to have a lot of decent reviews, which gave me hope bc the previous med before that was celexa..which I took for several yrs and it worked "ok"..I say that bc I've never found that "miracle happy pill" that some people refer to as their depression med..celexa kept me from feeling suicidal & not as nuts..until about the end of the 2nd yr of taking it..then I became "immune" as I call it. Lol Next was viibryd, which I've took 60mgs 1x aday at bedtime..(I also suffer from bouts of insomnia,which have worsened since my hysterectomy May 2012) it pretty much has kept me feeling numb in a way..I'm not happy..not sad(with the exception of hormone replacement med issues)..not mad..not anything..it's like..I'm just here..I also have several other health issues..fibromyalgia,ADD,chronic pain,neck & back bulging discs..bone spurs..muscle spasms, chiari malformation, plus a few more..yea I fell apart around age 32..lol.. Anyways I go thru days of just wanting to sleep or lay n bed all day & night..then I'll go a night and can't sleep..the days where all I wanna do is sleep..I hear fam members tell me..just make urself get up..ok if any of u know what I mean by saying..it's not that simple on those days bc it's like ur in a coma or something..told my dr yesterday that the viibryd isn't doing it..so she puts me on fetzima 80mg (gave me a week sample,then called script in) took 1 yesterday..now I'm also on vyvance 40mg 1x aday..2nd mth on it bc after yrs of taking Adderall, I'm "immune" to it now..vyvance is subtle, but I can tell it's working..ok so I take my first fetzima yesterday around 11ish am..really didn't feel anything different at all..last night(this am) I've had an insomnia night..but I don't believe the med caused it bc I'm prone to these..I'm really hoping this med works for me like it has some of u..I wanna have energy again..I wanna be happy,get excited,"feel good", again..which has been so long..I can't even remember looking fwd and being excited about something..I'm a stay at home mom (quit my job after 9yr as a retail mgr oct 2012, so I could fix me..hoping for this to be my "happy pill"..anyways..thanks for reading my "novel" here I've written and I look fwd to sharing experiences w u all..one question tho..for those still taking fetzima and having success..are u taking first thing n morning? Do u eat w it or take on empty stomach? Any advice? Like I said..my dr started me on 80mg off the bat..which from what I've read in y'all's post, is higher than most of u started on..anyways..glad to have found this and look fwd to chatting!

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

I am new to this post, but found it the googling for Fetzima. I had a stroke in april last year, and while I have been very lucky and have recovered very well physically, I've had a tough time mentally. After the stroke, I got really depressed, and what made it worse was I started hearing voices. I was able to go back to work, but I got to the point where I could barely cross the street. I finally went to my doctor and told him about what was going on, and he put me on Lexipro. The Lexipro kind of took care of the depression, but not the voices. I told my therapist about his, and she said she knew a psychiatrist who did research into brain waves, and had built a database of brainwaves. He uses the database to match up drugs to different patients, or whatever. Anyhow, I saw him in December, and he put me on Fetzima. He also put me on Lamactil, but this really screwed me up because the depression would come over me like waves, and the voices felt like they were in a cage in which the door was open and the key was in the lock. I only took it for a couple of weeks before I went back and told him. He now has me on a very low dosage of Dextroamphetamine. The voices disappeared almost immediately, it was amazing. But I haven't had any of the side effects with Fetzima that others have mentioned.

"paranoia strikes deep, into your life it will creep, it starts when you're always afraid, step out of line, the men come and take you away..."

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

New to the board, tomorrow will be my first day on fetzima. Just got out Viibryd after being on it for nearly three years. Stopped working. So here i am. Doc said its a newer script, so may not be much info on it, but glad I'm here to read up on post regarding others taking it. I'm also taking abilify with it, doc says it should help with the edginess that may come along as a side effect. Anyone else taking abilify with it or any other stabilizer?